Militant Involved In City Shootouts Killed: Police

4 September 2009Greater Kashmir

Srinagar: Police on Friday claimed that a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, responsible for killing four paramilitary CRPF troopers in twin attacks in Lal Chowk was killed in an encounter with troops in north Kashmir, while a Lashkar-e-Toiba, militant was killed in a gunfight with troopers in Jammu’s Reasi district. A police spokesman said that a joint party of policemen and troopers cordoned off the Poshwan village in Pattan this morning and launched searches. “When the forces were sealing off a particular area, they came under heavy fire from militants. The fire was retaliated triggering a gunfight in which a militant was killed,” he added. The Inspector General of Police, Farooq Ahmed, identified the slain militant as Shamim alias Rizwan. “He was involved in the killing of CRPF men at Residency Road and UCO bank besides two grenade attacks at Batamaloo in which one constable was killed and 25 persons were injured, respectively,” the IGP told Greater Kashmir. He said following the incidents, police had launched a massive manhunt to track the accused. “Finally he was killed in an encounter today,” he claimed. Reports said that after the encounter ended, hundreds people joined the funeral prayers of the slain militant and staged massive pro-freedom demonstrations on Srinagar-Varmul highway. Meanwhile, police said a commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba was killed in a gun battle with troops at Mahore this morning. It identified the slain militant as Abu Jindal alias Muhammad Avais code Zuman. “The operation in the area is still on as two more militants are believed to be hiding there,” police added.